Michael Ring
Question:175 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his 1997 cattle and sheep headage. [18458/97]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Outstanding payments will issue within the next week.
Michael Ring
Question:176 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when persons (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid their 1997 cattle and sheep headage in view of the fact that the delay is causing financial hardship. [18460/97]
The area aid application of the persons named has not yet been cleared so as to allow payment of headage to them. Every effort is being made to clear all area aid applications, other than a small minority of very intractable cases, so that payment can be made in this and other similar cases during the next few weeks.
If the area aid application of the persons named is found to be in order they should be paid cattle and sheep headage within this period.
John V. Farrelly
Question:177 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has received Government approval for the £17.5 million which was committed to the beef producers by the previous Government; if so, when he envisages payment will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18461/97]
Paul Connaughton
Question:248 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give an assurance that the national top up premium payment for revaluation compensation will be £50 per head on steers, heifers and bulls disposed of between 1 April and 10 June 1997. [19131/97]
The Minister for Finance has given his approval for payment of a national contribution in respect of agrimonetary losses to producers in the beef, milk, cereals and sugar sectors. Under EU regulations it is necessary to obtain the prior approval of the European Commission for all schemes for agrimonetary compensation, whether funded by the EU budget or the national Exchequer. The figure of £50 per head for eligible cattle was announced by my predecessor despite the fact that such approval had not been obtained. The approval of the Commission has now been received for payment of compensation based on what they estimate to be actual losses to producers resulting directly from the revaluations in November 1996 and January 1997. This will amount to approximately IR£41 per head on eligible steers, young bulls and heifers disposed of between 1 April and 10 June 1997. A top-up of £2 per head of the special beef premium in respect of animals which qualified for the 22 month premium in 1996 has also been approved.
Payments will commence when, and if, the necessary Supplementary Estimate is passed by Dáil Éireann. It is hoped to present the Supplementary Estimate to Dáil Éireann in the very near future.